Joseph galamb



J. GALAMB.

ELECTRIC SWITCH APPLICATION FILED,M-AY16, 1919.

1,353,580, v PatentedSept. 21,1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH GALAMB, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AssIenon T0 roan MOTOR COMPANY, or

DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AooRPoItATIoN or DELAWARE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH GALAMB, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of WVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrio Switches, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompan ing drawings. j I

This invention relates to a control switch for the lightand signal system ofan auto mobile, andtoan arrangement thereof that enables the operator to throw on lights and dimthem, and to sound the horn or alarm, the device'being designedto be clamped on the steering column of the automobile.

The invention consists in the matters'here inafter set forth, and "more I particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, I

Figure 1 is a view of a switch embodying the invention applied to the steering column of an automobile; I

Fig. 2 is .a-view in longitudinal section through the switch;

Fig. 3 is a view in detail of a contact block; n

Fig. 4 is a viewin detail of a contact block on the under side thereof, and

Fig. 5 is a View ofthe assembled structure taken at right angles to the section of Fi.2. v I

n the drawings, a'holding member 1 is formed of sheet material so that when bent between its ends the'shankportion 2 there of conforms to and encirclesthe steering column 3 for which the'switch is intended. The opposed arms 4 of the device are transverselyconvexed, so as to form a tubular barrel when closed with their margins 5 in contact or overlapping relation.

A knurled'headf6 of suitable insulating material has a peripheralgroove 7 that is entered by inturn'ed flanes 8 on the ends of the armsi l so the, hea 6 has free rotation and slight longitudinal movement in the holder. A squared, flattened, or polygonal stem 9, non-rotatably embedded in, the head 6, extends througha central opening in a contact block 10of suitable insulating material which is held in place relative to the head 6 by suitable securing means, as

for example, a screw 11 passing through dependinglugs 12, embedded in the block v .ELECTRIC swI'rcH.

I: Specification of Letters Patent, Patented Sept 21 1920. Application filed May 16, 1919. Serial No. 297,459. 7

10 and likewise through the arms 4 of the connection for a conducting wire to the magneto or the bile. I I

I A contact bar 16 of spring material is non-rotatably secured on the stem 9 between the finger 14 andthe block 10 so that inner projections 17 and 18 on its inner end portions, are yieldingly pressed both by the finger 141 and the spring 13 against the block and face. When the contact bar is turned in to the position shown in Fig. 3, for example, the projection 17 drops into. contact with the sleeve and screw of an embedded terminal 19 arranged for connection with means for dimming the lights. Or the boss 18 may be swung into connection with a similar terminal 20 whereby full bright lights are obtained. a

Recesses 21' and 22 in the block are used tolock the bar 16 in neutral position, the lugs snapping into these recesses. In order that the device may also close the circuit of an electric horn or like electric sounding device, a terminal 26 with the externally channeled and roughened bushing of the other terminals, has an inwardly extending spring finger 23 that overlies the end generator of the automoof the stem 9 so as to contact therewith horn terminal 26, at thesame time .thatthe boss 18 contacts with the terminal 20, thus holding the parts in adjustment.

As a further detail of good construction the stem 9 has a peripheral groove near its outer end whereby a slotted washer 24; may he slipped into interlocking relation with the stem 9, the washer being seated in a recess 25, formed by counterboring the block 10. This permits the bodily withdrawal of the head 6 and block 10 together when the screw 11 that holds the arms 4 together and the block 10 in position, is withdrawn.

As a result of this construction a very neat and simple switch is had that is easily mounted in position, is quickly manipulated to produce the desired lighting effect and is likewise arranged to close the circuit through the electric horn or other similar sounding device, regardless of the position in which the handle may be set.

Obviously changes in the detail of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and I do not care to limit myself to any particular form or arrangement or" parts.

Tl hat I claim is:

1. A controlling switch for the light and signal system of an automobile comprising a casing adapted to be clamped around a steering post, a contact block secured in the casing, a head rotatable and longitudinally reciprocable in the end portion of the casing, a stem carried by the head extending through the insulating block, means detachably securing the insulating block and stem together, a spring normally holding the head projected from the insulating block, a contact cooperating with the stem when the head is moved toward the block to close a horn signal circuit, contact terminals for the various light circuits for which the switch is designed, mounted in the block, and aconnecting arm carried by the stem for engaging the contact terminals and adapted to interlock yieldingly with the cont-act block in desired position under the influence of the head-projecting spring.

2; The combination of a steering column of an automobile with a light and signal circuit controlling switch consisting of a sheet metal casing bendable between the ends to conform to and embrace the column, the resultant arms forming an open-ended substantially cylindrical shell when the casing is secured on the column, said arms having inturned flanges, a contact block provided with light circuit and signal circuit terminals and secured in the shell, a rotatable longitudinally reciprocable head having an annular groove to receive the flanges of the shell and provided with members for engaging the several contact points when the head is appropriately rotated, said head being normally spring projected from the block, and contact members on the head and block for closing a horn signal circuit when the head is moved toward the block.

3. The combination of a steering column of an automobile with a light and signal circuitcontrolling switch consisting of a sheet metal casing bendable between the ends to conform to and embrace the column, the resultant arms forming a substantially cylindrical shell when the casing is secured on the column, a contact block provided with light circuit and signal circuit terminals, means extending through said arms for securing the arms together and holding the contact bloclrfixedly within the shell, a head longitudinally reciprocable and rotatable in the casing provided with contact members adapted to be brought into contact with the terminals of the block, and a spring yieldingly projecting the head and permitting the contact of acircuit terminal on the head with a companion terminal on the block to close the signal circuit when the head is forcedinwardly, regardless of the relative angular positions of the block and head.

4;; The combination of a steering column of an automobile with a light and signal circuit controlling switch consisting of a sheet metal casing bendable between the ends to conform to'and embrace the column, the resultant arms being transversely concave vto form a substantially cylindrical shell when the casingis secured on the column, a contact block provided with light circuit and signal circuit terminals and secured in the shell, a semicircular internal flange on the end portion of each arm, a head having a peripheral groove entered by the flanges of the closed shell whereby the head has rotatable and limited longitudinal reciprocating movement in the shell, a spring between the contact block and head for holding the head normally projected, a stem non-rotatably secured to the head extending through the block, means detachably securing the block and stem together, andmeans on the stem for forming electrical contacts selectively with the light terminals when the head is rotated and with the signal terminal when the head is forced inwardly to close the several circuitsof the terminals.

5. The combination of a steering column of an automobile with a light and signal circuit controllingswitch consisting of a sheet metalv casing bendable between the ends to conform to and embrace the column, the resultant arms being transversely concave to, form a substantially cylindrical shell when the casing is secured on the column, a contact block provided with light circuit and signal circuit terminals mounted in the shell, a head having a peripheral groove engaged by inner segmental flanges formed on the end portions of the arms, whereby the head is longitudinally reciprocable and rotatable in the casing, a stem extending from the head through the block and carrying contact members for engagement selectively with the block terminals, means detachably securing the stem and the block, and a spring normally projecting the head from the block, and the head contact members against the block.

6. A controlling switch for the light and signal system of an automobile comprising a cylindrical casing adapted to be secured to a steering column of an automobile, an inner retaining flange in the casing, a contact block secured in the casing, a head having a peripheral groove spaced from its ends and engaged by the flange whereby the head extends within and has free rotatable and limited longitudinal movement in the casing, a stem secured to the head to turn in the block through which it extends, light circuit and signal contact terminals in the block, a contact member rotated by the stem to engage the light circuit terminals selectively, a spring in compression between the head and block yieldingly holding the stem contact member against the block and the head projected, and means on the head to close the circuit through the signal contact Whenever the head is forced toward the block.

7. In a controlling switch construction for light and signal circuits of automobiles, a fixedly positioned terminal carrying member having a flat face, said member having a plurality of terminals carried thereby and exposed in said face and also having a finger, and a movable instrumentality positioned opposite said face, said instrumentality including a rotatable and axially movable member carrying a stem non circular in cross section at and extending into the terminal member and movable relatively thereto, a contact member fittin said stem to rotate therewith while permitting stem movement axially relative thereto, said contact member being positioned between said face and the finger, and resilient means between said finger and movable member for normally maintaining said latter member in an outer position.

8. In a controlling switch construction for light and signal circuits of automobiles, and wherein a movable member is adapted to control the lighting circuits by rotatable movements and the signal circuit by an axial movement, a terminal carrying member comprising an insulating block having a face adapted to oppose the movable member, terminal bushings exposed on said face and adapted to be connected to the lighting circuits, a bushing mounted in the block in spaced relation to said face and formed to receive a terminal of the signal circuit, and a rotatable member having a contact movable into and out of position relative to said. bushings, said contact having a con figuration adapted to engage in a bushing.

9. In a controlling switch construction for light and signal circuits of automobiles, a member having a flat face and carrying terminals ofthe light and signal circuits and a terminal for the supply circuit, said latter terminal including a finger overlying said face, and a contact carrying member movable relatively to the terminal-carrying member and having a contact positioned between said finger and face, whereby relative movement of contact and terminals will make and break the circuits individually.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the'presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH GALAMB.

Witnesses H. E. HA TMAN," J. G. HARNESS. 

